Period rant

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

You know, I've read many posts in this and certain other communities, written by girls/women who obviously feel quite positive about this whole period business. I've always marveled at that, because my own feelings about the phenomenon are quite different....



I hate having my period. Okay? Loathe it. In fact, if there were a way for me to stop it permanently, I'd probably do it in a heartbeat. But since I think it would be rather difficult to convince a doctor to perform a full hysterectomy on a healthy 26-year-old just because she doesn't want it anymore...I'm most likely stuck with it, no?

Right now, I'm on the third day of my period. I'm crampy as hell, I'm bloated like a fucking baby beluga, and I'm moody as all get out. I could deal with all that, though, if I didn't feel so dirty. Seriously. I feel rotten, like I could take four showers a day and still not feel clean.

Of course the pad thing only makes it worse, since every time I go to the bathroom I have a visual reminder of what's going on. I know I've got the option to use tampons, but since they make my cramps have cramps, that's really not an option.

I've heard of women who make art out of used pads and menstrual blood, and while I'm amazed that they're able to do that, I'll be honest: I don't understand it. I don't even want to be reminded of mine at all, let alone turn it into art. The smell, the sight....it just sickens me.

I know it's all terribly unfeminist of me and everything, but I honestly cannot stand having my period. When I skip a month (or two, or three), it's not a cause for concern; I'm too busy thanking whatever God may exist that I get to bypass the whole fucking mess for a while.

And I feel like my poor vagina's stuck in the middle of all this. Normally she and I are best friends. I pay her much attention. :) But, when my damn ovaries & uterus decide to make their presence known -- well, the situation gets icy. My vagina and I spend a week each month not being on speaking terms.



I just felt the need to post this tonight. I hope no one's offended by it, but this is the way I feel, so I won't apologize.

Comments

[koushi.livejournal.com]

Maybe a menstrual cup would be better?

I hate periods too.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

Considering the fact that putting a tampon up there makes me cramp like WHOA, I'm not all that keen on finding out what a menstrual cup would do to me.

And again, with a menstrual cup, I've still got to see the blood. I don't think there's any way for me to win in this situation. I just hate this so much.

[obvious.livejournal.com]

I think the difference is that a tampon sits higher than a cup. It could be the contact with your cervix that's making you cramp.

[asian-duckie.livejournal.com]

much of the smell is caused by the chemicals in pads, I used to hate my period too, and than I switched to cloth but you said you dont like seeing your mensus, so i suppose that option is out. What about depovera, or regular hbc to lesson or oblivate cramps?

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Good point. :)

[aechei.livejournal.com]

oooh, oooh!
mirena iud!
90% of women have lighter, shorter, or fewer periods. 20% stop having periods altogether.

i haven't had a period since august!
you don't need to have had kids, i am 21 with no children.

check out iud_divas if you are interested.

[obvious.livejournal.com]

:-)

It took me forever and a year to find a comfortable tampon. I finally settled on OB because they are really short and they don't rest on my cervix. Other brands are long and ram right up against it and would be so uncomfortable. But they don't have an applicator and that might be a bit too "ew" for you.

My 32 year old best friend HATES her period (thinks she's unclean and everything) and I'm cool with mine. Everyone's different.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

I'm not willing to go the HBC route again...last year I went through just about every birth control pill there is, and it was NOT a pretty experience. Depression, moodiness like CRAZY, backaches, migraines...so no, no HBC for me.

I never thought of the chemicals in pads causing much of the smell.....that's a good point.

I'd probably try the cloth ones if there was a place around here to get them, but there's not. And ordering them online...well, I guess I could try that, but cost would be an issue, as I am a broke grad student *lol*

I don't know. It's not that I HATE seeing it, it's just that if I happen to be having a "good" period day -- with no cramps, no backache, nothing (which is rare) -- I can almost forget for a while that I'm even having it. And then I go to the bathroom and it's like, "Oh. Yeah. It's....still here." It's one of the many reasons I really wish I could use tampons; I wouldn't have to see it and I could almost just pretend I wasn't having it. That, and I could go without having to wear dark pants for a week straight.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

....Holy God. I never even thought about getting an IUD. Really.

I'm going to have to check this out.

.....No period since August. I am so envious.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

Are the OB ones difficult to use, though? I mean, they're the ones with no applicator, right? It always seemed to me that they would be so difficult to position....

[juushika.livejournal.com]

Furthermore, the two act differently (absorbing v. collecting). I found that when I switched to the cup, I was suddenly having pain-free periods. What I thought to be natural cramps and discomfort seem to have been connected to the tampons, and are now completely gone. My cramps et al were never that bad, but you still might see some improvement with a menstrual cup.

[obvious.livejournal.com]

I don't really have a problem with them, but I've been using them forever and I honestly don't remember if I had any problems getting used to them.

I remember they used to come with an applicator version, but I don't know if they still carry them somewhere.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

....Are you in childfree, by any chance? Your icon looks so familiar....

[aechei.livejournal.com]

there is a significant amount of money and pain at the outset, for most people. i think it is well worth it.

i ended up getting mine free, but many people pay 200-400 dollars. but that is for FIVE years of bc. the insertion was excruciating, but i felt worlds better in a couple hours and worked on my feet the next day.

it might not eliminate your period, but it is a pretty good bet to make it easier and less shitty. cuz i feel your pain. lots of blood, killer cramps...been there done that.

[aechei.livejournal.com]

nope. i plan to have kids someday, but not for at least 5 years. so i am childfree currently, but i'm not a lifer.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

I'm going to check and see if my insurance covers it. If it does...I'm going to do a shitload of research over the weekend and get my arse over to the campus clinic on Monday.

[aechei.livejournal.com]

absolutely check out iud_divas. they are the queens of all things iud.

[xxchloroform.livejournal.com]

While I know how you feel with the cramping and all of that, I think our culture has a lot to do with how negative women feel about their periods. If it were more talked about or less reacted to like it was a horrible monster, I think we'd be fine. I mean, seriously, what's it tell a little girl when she asks her dad for tampons and he wrinkles his nose and gags? This isn't everyone, of course, but still. I don't understand how humans have developed such negative perceptions of what's totally normal and healthy. I mean, when other mammals have their periods, it's an aphrodisiac! XD

Periods are an inconvenient thing, yes. But they're 100% absolutely totally and unfailingly normal and natural. Except for transgendered/transsexual men, no one should be ashamed of themselves for something like this. :) I hope in time you come to think about your period in less negative terms.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

I know that periods are normal. And natural. And that every (healthy) woman gets it. And my family never made me feel that this was anything to be ashamed of, or disgusted by. I personally think that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and even though society does have an effect, I don't think it's fair to automatically chalk it up to "Oh, society just made you feel that way." No, actually, this is how I feel -- not how anyone else made me feel.

I feel I must reiterate -- I am not ashamed of my period. I simply don't like it. I don't like anything about it.

Until I cease to suffer from the negative side effects, I figure I will keep seeing my period in this manner.

[xxchloroform.livejournal.com]

I'm an anthropology major, love. We blame everything on culture. XD

But I won't debate. Your opinions are just as valid as mine, if not more so. The whole "I feel dirty/rotten" passage made me jump to conclusions, and I apologize.

Still, I wish you a better sense of mind for the future, regardless.

[mammothali.livejournal.com]

Periods do suck. I was on the ring for a year and only had a period every 3-4 months. When I got off (it also gave me mood issues) I was so angry to have to deal with my period again. But my cramps are actually better now. The only things I miss are clear skin, infrequent periods, unprotected sex, and... the big boobs :)

Having a sex drive and not being totally moody and depressed, however, trumps it all.

You should definitely look into the IUD, though. I've been thinking about it, too.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

I just feel dirty because...well, I feel dirty, that's all. Not "dirty" as in "Oh God I'm filthy and I'll never get the dirt off!!" but more like, "God, I need a shower...again." But then again, I'm also the type of person who can't stand being sweaty, either -- I feel like I need a shower really badly after I've walked anywhere on a humid day, for example. It's not like I'm afraid to go near the cornfields for fear I'll contaminate the crops, or anything.

And I know that if, somehow, I could get rid of/lessen the cramps, and figure out a way to stop using these damn pads...that might help. I don't know.

[rotf-lmao.livejournal.com]

I have big boobs already! BOOYA. ;o)

I have all kinds of things to research now: cloth pads, IUDs....whoot. I'm gonna be busy!

[arseaboutface.livejournal.com]

I've used them as well as other brands, and they were a breeze, and also really comfy. I think they actually make some OB with applicators, if that's your thing.

Just a note--when I started the NuvaRing, my periods went from 6-7 days to maybe 2 1/2 days long.

[capnhowdie.livejournal.com]

i totally agree with you!! i hate the dirty feeling, i dont want to look at it, smell it etc. but i dont like any form of blood, including raw meat.

i hate the way it makes me feel...physically.